Jersey Town To Stop Gangs With Elbow Grease, Pluck

Remember the days when gangs were friendly little scamps who knew how to tap dance, and they only play fought with play knives and had simple-to-remember names like “Jets” and “Sharks” that made them seem more like a sports team or social club than a gang? Well, you probably don’t, since I don’t think those days only existed in high school plays. (See also: Guys and Dolls.)

Well, now our gangs aren’t like they were in the movies and they’re taking over streetcorners and probably full of illegal immigrants and owned by a company in Dubai, too. One such town is Pemberton Township, New Jersey, which has a school district with the initials PTSD. (Heh.) While gangs aren’t on streetcorners there, cops say, they are in homes and there have been four shootings this year.

And, so, the township has turned to a 74-year-old woman to organize ideas to get rid of gangs (really) since th township really can’t do anything itself (emphasis mine):

The key to fighting back, law enforcement and gang experts say, is creating activities and opportunities within the community for young people who might be drawn to gang activity. That may be ideal, but [Pemberton Township Committeeman Tom] Inge said the town’s financial situation leaves it with a difficult reality.

The township can’t even afford to conduct a meeting at Burlington County College to address the growing problem, Inge said. They’re looking for funds for that and extra money Igne thinks the township needs to provide better safety and security for this summer’s outdoor community events.

The township plans to wait until the middle of spring when it’s warm and hold a meeting in the parking lot of a Wawa.

Pemberton Twp. residents take action on gangs [Camden Courier-Post]